Besides overall slumping sales and mixed reviews for Nintendo's new Wii U console, the quality and innovative spirit of many games seemed muted in comparison to recent years, which led to a handful of sequels and franchises speaking for the entire industry (Assassin's Creed III, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, etc.)

However, heroes arrived in the form of mobile, indie and downloadable games. And since our tablets, smartphones, TVs and laptops are all occasions for gaming these days, our choices and chances are only getting better.

There's a brighter digital horizon in 2013, but this year still had a few gems.

From the same developer that brought us the brilliant Flower comes Journey, a downloadable game in which you play a nameless traveler in a vast, stark landscape. There are no points, dialogue or beat-you-over-the-head plot twists, just a subtly directed, interactive experience that rivals novels and films in its emotional impact. Bonus points for the hypnotic score from Denver's own Austin Wintory — the first to ever be nominated for a Grammy award.

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2. The Walking Dead (Xbox 360, PS3, Mac, PC, iOS)

These serialized adaptations of AMC's zombie-apocalypse TV show hew closer to the graphic novel's source material in tone, and that's a good thing. Chilling, touching and never squandering our emotions or attention, this is a shining example of how interactive storytelling should work.

As the sequel to the strikingly cell-shaded Borderlands shooter, this massive open-world game injected irreverent humor into its immaculately rendered quests, balancing gritty gunplay and jittery tension. A pure, action-packed joy to visit and revisit.

This epic role-playing shooter caused a lot of controversy with its unsatisfying ending, given all the time fans had invested in the first two installments. The quality of the experience didn't always match its quantity, but when it worked it effortlessly transported players to another, fully-realized sci-fi universe.

5. Infinity Blade II (iOS)

Mobile games have evolved far beyond Angry Birds, as this rich, compelling fantasy sequel shows. With a seemingly endless supply of shiny weapons, snarling foes and sparkling gems, Infinity Blade II was a hack 'n slash action RPG as addictive as it was expertly crafted.

6. Dishonored (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

Most games provide the illusion of choice and consequences, but like the similarly excellent Deus Ex, this stealth-leaning steampunk game truly gave players a chance to craft their fates.

7. Fez (Xbox Live Arcade, PC)

The long-in-development indie title had a near-flawless debut on the Xbox 360's online network. Its clever, perspective-shifting mechanics proved that a pixelated platformer could offer as much depth and enjoyment as many more sophisticated or better-funded AAA titles.

8. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning (Xbox 360, PS3, PC)

All fantasy and role-playing games strive to create a self-contained and credible world, but rarely do they come as fully formed as Kingdoms of Amalur, which featured writing and design by such respected names as R.A. Salvatore, Todd McFarlane and Ken Rolston.

9. Lego Lord of the Rings (NDS, Vita, 3DS, PC, Wii, Xbox 360, PS3)

The Lego games have taken on Batman, Indiana Jones and Darth Vader, so they could easily come off as expensive ads for toys. But the developers pour an unusual amount of care and thought into them, resulting in a compelling all-ages experience. The sprawling "Lord of the Rings" films get a surprisingly faithful treatment here that meshes well with the established mechanics and tone of this series.

10. Spec Ops: The Line (Xbox 360, PS3)

As a nation, we're now revisiting the topic of violent video games and their effects on society — and we should. But as this nuanced title shows, not every game that involves gunplay is a mindless exercise in consequence-free violence.

Lockheed says object part of 'sensor technology' testing that ended ThursdayWhat the heck is that thing? It's fair to assume that question was on the minds of many people who traveled along Colo. 128 south of Boulder this week if they happened to catch a glimpse of what appeared to be a large, silver projectile perched alongside the highway and pointed north toward town.

PARIS (AP) — Bye, New York! Ciao, Milan! Bonjour, Paris! The world's largest traveling circus of fashion editors, models, buyers and journalists has descended on the French capital, clutching their metro maps and city guides, to cap the ready-to-wear fashion season. Full Story